A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 07 eBook

Chaumigrem, who had fled the year before to
Tangu, hearing that Xemindoo had disbanded
most of his forces, marched against him and obtained
a complete victory, by which the kingdom of Pegu was
again reduced under the authority of the Birmans.
Xemindoo was taken some time afterwards and put to
death. Chaumigrem being now king of the Birmans
and of Pegu, went to war against Siam, with an army
of 1,700,000 men, and 17,000 elephants, having a considerable
body of Portuguese in his service. All this army
came to ruin, and the kingdom of Pegu was soon afterwards
reduced to subjection by the king of Aracan, as formerly
related.

The kingdom of Siam, though much harassed by these
invasions, still held out, and, in 1627, was possessed
by the black king, so called because he really
was of a black colour, though all the inhabitants of
that country are fair complexioned[27]. In 1621,
this black king of Siam sent ambassadors to
Goa, desiring that some Franciscans might be sent
to preach the gospel in his dominions. Accordingly,
father Andrew, of the convent of the Holy Ghost, went
to Odiaa[28], where he was received honourably,
and got leave to erect a church, which was done at
the king’s expence. He likewise offered
great riches to the venerable father, who constantly
refused his offers, to the great admiration and astonishment
of the king. This black king of Siam was
of small stature, of an evil presence, and an extraordinarily
compound character, of great wickedness, mixed with
great generosity. Although cruel men are for
the most part cowards, he was at the same time exceedingly
cruel, and very valiant; and though tyrants are generally
covetous, he was extremely liberal; being barbarous
in some parts of his conduct, and generous and benevolent
in others. Not satisfied with putting thieves
and robbers to ordinary deaths, he was in use to have
them torn in pieces in his presence by tigers and
crocodiles for his amusement. Understanding that
one of his vassal kings intended to rebel, he had him
shut up in a cage, and fed him with morsels of his
own flesh torn from his body, after which he had him
fried in a pan. On one occasion he slew seven
ladies belonging to the court, only because they walked
too quick; and on another occasion he cut off the
legs of three others, because they staid too long
when sent by him for some money to give to certain
Portuguese. He even extended his severity to animals;
having cut off the paw of a favourite monkey for putting
it into a box containing some curiosities. A
valuable horse was ordered to be beheaded, in presence
of his other horses, because he did not stop when
he checked him. A tiger that did not immediately
seize a criminal thrown to him, was ordered to be
beheaded as a coward. Yet had this cruel and capricious
tyrant many estimable virtues. He kept his word
inviolable; was rigorous in the execution of justice;
liberal in his gifts; and often merciful to those